Shoe-stretcher.



0. L. PASSMORE.

snon STRETGHER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11,1908.

Patented May 11, 1909.

a E l CHARLES LEWIS. rAssMoRnor 'cLnrron, IOWA.

SHOE-STRETGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Application filed May 11, 1908. Serial No. 432,097.

To all whom it may concern:

MORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Stretcher, .of which. the following is a specification. I

The object of my invention is to provide a shoe stretcher of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, designed to be permanently secured to a stationary support in such position that it is readily and easily accessible for use, and also so arranged that it may be adjusted for stretching shoes of different sizes and shapes, and for applying pressure to shoes at different points, as required in stretching shoes to comfortably fit the wearers feet.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the obj ectscontemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims. and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which l Figure 1 shows an edge view'of the complete device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of same; The dotted lines therein indicate a shoe in position on the stretcher and also show the adjusted position of the movable stretching member and lever. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of one of the detachable knobs on the stretching members, and Fig. 4 shows an end view of same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral-10 to indicate the body of the device, whichis provided with legs 11, the lower ends of which are beveled or inclined in such a manner as to support the body at an angle of about 15 degrees relative to a horizontal table or other support on which the legs are fixed. The body is also provided with a lateral curve near its central portion, so arranged that a shoe may be placed upon the body portion in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the upper portion of the body may then rest inside of the shoe. This obviously would not be possible if the body portion were not provided with the lateral curve.

At the upper end of the body portion 10 is a socket in which a stationary arm 12 is detachably supported. This arm extends straight upwardly in line with the body portion 10, and its upper end is tapered. Pivotally mounted in the upper end of the body portion 10 is an arm 13 similar to the arm 12, and having a lever 14 connected with it, and extended substantially horizontal. When the upper end of said lever is moved downwardly, the arm 13 is moved away from the arm 12, and when the lever is moved upwardly, the arm 13 is moved toward the arm 12.

; On the upper end of each of the arms 12 and 13 is a knob 15 designed for engagement with the interior of a shoe, for the purpose of stretching the shoe at the points where said knob engages. Each of these knobs is provided on one side with a rounded outer end portion at 16, that does not project beyond the side of the knob, and on the opposite side of the knob is a rounded projection 17. The knob is provided with a tapered opening 18 designed to detachably fit on the tapered end of one of the arms 12.

In practical use, the device is preferably placed upon a horizontal bench or table, and by having the arms 12 and 13 inclined at the angle shown, an operator may very conveniently and easily place a shoe in position with the arms 12 and 13 inside of the shoe, and the lever 14 projecting out through the side of the shoe, then the shoe is placed in position so that the knobs 15 will engage the shoeat the point .where it is to be stretched, then the operator presses downwardly upon theouter end of the lever 11, thus spreading the knobs 15 and forcing them to stretch the shoe at the points where they engage.

By having a stationary body portion attached to a base, it is obvious that the stretcher is always held in position where it would be convenient for use by the operator, and furthermore, a comparatively long ,lever may be used, which may be conveniently and easily actuated by the operators one hand, for the purpose of applying a considerable pressure to the stretching members. In devices of'this class, that are not provided with stationary base portions, it is obvious that the pressure that may be applied by an operator is comparatively limited, and that both hands must be used in order to apply this pressure. In my device, one hand may be used to hold and support the shoe, and the other to operate the single lever.

By having the knobs formed with rounded projections on one side, it is obvious that when said rounded projections are made to engage the shoe, the shoe may be stretched to a great extent at the point where said rounded projection engages, hence, if the wearer of the shoe has a corn or bunion,

the shoe may be stretched at the point Where 4 sald corn or bunion engages it, and at no other points adjacent thereto, or if it is desired to stretch the shoe through a greater portion of its length, then the comparatively fiat sides of the knob are made to engage the shoe. 'Furthermore, by having said knobs detachable, others may be substituted in place of them, which others may be of any desired size or shape to suit the requirements.

I claim as my invention.

1. In a device of the class described, thecombination of a body portion designed to be permanently connected with a base, a stationary arm connected with the body portion, and a combined arm and lever pivoted to the body portion, said arm being capable of movement to position substantially parallel with the stationary arm, and also to position at an acute angle relative thereto, and said lever being extended in a position substantially at right angles to the arm, for the purpose stated.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a support designed to be permanently secured to a base and having a curved central portion so shaped that the top of the body is out of alinement with the lower end of the support, a stationary arm connected with the base and having a knob at its upper end and a combined arm and lever fulcrumed to the base, said arm having a knob at its upper end and said lever being extended at substantially right angles to the arm, for the purposes stated.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base, a body portion fixed to the base and extended at an angle of about 45 degrees relative thereto, said body portion being provided with a curved central portion so arranged that the upper part of the body is out of alinement with the lower part, a stationary arm connected with the support, a rounded knob at the top thereof, and a combined arm and lever fulcrumed to the support, said arm havin a rounded knob thereon and said lever being extended substantially at right angles to the arm, for the purposes stated.

a. An improved shoe stretcher comprising a standard, a stationary arm fixed to the standard and having an angular upper end, a lever fulcrumed to the standard and having an arm thereon arranged at the side of the aforesaid arm and having an angular upper end, and a .knob for each arm comprising a body portion having an angular opening therein to receive the angular end of the arm, the upper end portion of each knob being rounded and being provided on one side with a rounded lateral projection, said parts being so arranged that either or both knobs may be placed in position on the arms With the rounded projections extended inwardly, and the smooth rounded portions of the knobs in position to engage the sides of a shoe, the said knobs being reversible so that one or both rounded projections will extend outwardly and engage the interior of a shoe.

5. In a shoe stretcher, the combination of a standard having a socket at its upper end, an arm detachably mounted in said socket, a lever pivoted adjacent to the socket and having an integral arm thereon, both of said arms having tapered angular upper ends, and a knob on the upper end oi. each arm, each knob comprising a body portion having tapered angular openings therein designed to receive the upper end of the arm, and each also having a rounded upper end provided on one side with a lateral rounded extension arranged and combined substantially in the manner set forth, and for the purposes stated.

Des Moines, Ta, March 18, 1908.

CHARLES LEWIS PASSMORE. Witnesses T. R. MURRAY, M. A. MoGINN. 

